TOP OF THE WEEK:

A relatively new item the past few years in local (and national) newspapers is the “fact checker”, “political fact” or whatever. Reading these things makes you wonder who checks the “checkers”. While we assume the facts they dispense are somewhat correct, often there is a “however” that doesn’t seem to make it into print. Case in point is a recent “political fact” column on Medicare Advantage programs which states “So far, Obamacare hasn’t harmed Medicare Advantage. Coverage has stayed relatively the same.” This is simply not true. Take the case of one healthy Advantage enrollee. This year alone, their lone prescription drug now costs $120 a year more. They have lost nearly all dental and vision coverage, a cost thus far this year of nearly $250. Virtually all advantage plans have dropped the so-called silver sneakers fitness coverage – a cost of $360 a year. Not even counting the nickel and diming of increased co-pays, this healthy enrollee is out over $700 and we’re just over a third of the way through the year. Heaven help someone not so healthy. These political fact folk’s pants may not be on fire, but they are smoldering.

THIS WEEK’S TEN:

Around the Bay -

1. With all the increases in the cost of beach parking by the city of Clearwater, something that flew under the radar screen of most media is the impact it has on our handicapped citizens. Most if not all handicapped spots on the beach were free - as it should be. Now they are being asked to pay as much as seven dollars for a spot that was free a month ago. Hope some handicapped person takes the city to court over this latest show of avarice - and hope they win.

2. The folks who run the Island Way Grill, Rhumba and other Pinellas restaurants say their new Mexican-themed restaurant atop the Clearwater Marina will be open in September which prompted more than one wag to ask “of what year?”

3. In a related note, we sure miss Capt. Bruce Littler’s nautical themed shop on the first floor of the marina. It and the nice gift shop at the western end of the marina were both victims of “progress” at the city owned facility.

4. You’ve really lived in Clearwater for a while if you remember Scotty’s Swing Shift on WTAN Radio.

5. It appears a misguided bunch in Tarpon Springs are hell bent to not have a picturesque boardwalk along the bayou - keeping Dodecanese Boulevard a canyon of tourist shops. This story, however, may not be over.

The Diamond, Media and Other Stuff -

6. If you have an open mind and want to learn more about the umpiring craft along with baseball’s darker side, grab a copy of umpire Dave Pallone’s Behind the Mask. It’s not a new book but very topical given the recent uproar over NFL draftee Michael Sams.

7. The Tampa Bay Rays often remind you of the Atlanta Braves of the 90s – excellent starting pitching, spotty offense and a so-so bullpen. Like the 90s Braves, they have one of the best records of the decade but little to show for it.

8. Major league statistics indicate a batter drawing a lead-off walk scores just under 40 per cent of the time. What they mean is your team scores just under 40 per cent of the time. The opposing team, it seems, scores about 95 cent of the time.

9. The only song recorded by two different artists to hit number one on the charts was? Answer below.

10. Our crack sports prognosticator Mohamed Walled (pronounced wall-ED) is on assignment but his cousin Achmed Walled (pronounced wall-ED) is filling in.  Achmed predicts that those hoping for a Triple Crown will be disappointed when this week’s Belmont Stakes is run.  

IN CLOSING:

A few weeks ago we did a piece on some Pinellas County businesses that have been here for more than a half-century. Last week, a principal of one of those long-time businesses, Ron Day, retired. Ron succeeded his father and store founder, Herb Day, as the head of Day’s Furniture and continued his father’s tradition of excellent products and service. Now, Ron’s son, Mark, takes over – and the good news is Mark has two sons hopefully waiting in the wings at this Clearwater institution.

Answer to number 9 above. The Loco-Motion was the only song to hit number one by two different artists – the original by Little Eva (Carole King’s babysitter for her daughter) and the remake by Grand Funk Railroad.